The annual BMI London awards were held Tuesday night at the Dorchester Hotel, honoring the most played songs by BMI member songwriters and publishers. The London awards celebrate artists who are signed to BMI in the U.S. for their music played in Europe and Asia.
Queen received the big honor of the night, being named BMI Icons for their "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." Brian May and Roger Taylor attended the ceremony.
May told BBC 6 Music News "I'm very, very happy. It means a lot I think especially because it is an american award and although we were married to America for a long time, we never really did much in terms of awards. We're not bursting with Grammys, so it's nice to have that tribute from our peers."
Breakeven by the Script won the BMI Robert S. Musel Award for Song of the Year while College Song of the Year went to Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz. Dance Song of the Year was Stereo Love by Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina.
Among the Pop Award winners for most performed songs on U.S. Radio and Television was Soldier of Love by Sade and, in the TV Music Awards, Pete Townshend once again took home three for his songs Won't Get Fooled Again, Who Are You and Baba O'Riley as used on the three CSI shows.
Awards were also given out for songs which, over the years, have accumulated three million or more performances on U.S. TV and Radio (note, there may be additional songwriters for a praticular song (i.e., Paul McCartney) but they are not members of BMI):
10 Million
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
8 Million
Layla - Eric Clapton & James Gordan
7 Million
Daniel - Elton John & Bernie Taupin
6 Million
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - Sting
Honky Tonk Woman - Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Let It Be - John Lennon
Michelle - John Lennon
You Really Got Me - Ray Davies
5 Million
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John
Hey Jude - John Lennon
Say You Love Me - Christine McVie
Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton & Will Jennings
You Make Lovin' Fun - Christine McVie
4 Million
Black is Black - Michelle Grainger, Tony Hayes & Steve Wadley
Brown Sugar - Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Eleanor Rigby - John Lennon
The Finer Things - Steve Winwood & Will Jennings
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton, Marcella Levy & George Terry
Sad Songs - Elton John
She's Not There - Rod Argent
True - Gary Kemp
We Can Work It Out - John Lennon
Woman - John Lennon
3 Million
Another One Bites the Dust - John Deacon
Behind Blue Eyes - Pete Townshend
I Just Wanna Be Your Everything - Barry Gibb
It's a Heartache - Ronnie Scott & Steve Wolfe
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Barry Mason
Right Back Where We Started From - J. Vincent Edwards & Pierre Tubb
We Are the Champions - Freddie Mercury
Who Are You - Pete Townshend
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